Girona's Mountains and Costa Brava - section 2

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
We’re offering this successful tour again in 2018!  The last time this tour was offered in 2016 over 60 people participated in three different sections.  (You can read about one participant’s experience in this Tripper Report)

It all started several years ago when I stumbled across a New York Times Travel article entitled Finding Nirvana on Two Wheels.  (Who among us wouldn’t want to read an article with that title?)  This article captured my desire to visit and ride in a part of the world that hadn’t even been on my radar: Girona Spain.  It wasn’t really the fact that many pro cyclists (like Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Freddie Rodriguez and many more) trained in this area, but it was the outstanding natural features and rich cultural history that called to me.  So I went to explore the Province of Girona and ride among the stunning mountains, along the rugged Mediterranean coast and through dozens of small 12th and 13th century towns dripping with history.  It was one of my most memorable tours, and for most of the previous participants, it was theirs too.  Now I’m ready to offer it again in 2018 to BAC members.

The region we’re visiting is the most northeastern Province of Catalonia, Spain.  We’ll be nearly equidistant from the foothills of French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast, both of which we will be able to reach on our bike tours.  This location serves as an excellent jumping off point for our cycling days, and participants can expect to enjoy the following features during our tour:

• The City of Girona, with its historic district comprised of an ancient cathedral, old fortifications, narrow, cobblestone streets and the remnants of the Jewish community that flourished here in the 12th and 13th centuries, which now consists of charming streetscapes of residences, cafes, museums and shops.
• Costa Brava(which translates as the “rugged” or “wild coast”) - a beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean with its small bays, pocket beaches and charming seaside villages with cafes featuring delicious fresh seafood.
• Every town in this region has something to offer the visitor, making this area such a pleasure to visit.  There are historic monasteries, churches, castles, ancient bath houses and bridges from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries throughout the region.
• Salvador Dalí's homeland, with his castle at Pubol, his Theater and Museum in Figueres and his house, the Casa Museu Dalí, in Port Lligat, near Cadaqués.
• The Lake of Banyoles, a natural lake located in a tectonic depression, was the venue for the rowing events in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
• Generally there are lots of quiet, well maintained roads…and cycling is a national sport in Spain, so the other road users appreciate cyclists and will generally give you the space you need to relax and enjoy your riding!

RIDE RATING
Most days we will present a couple of route options that will vary in distance and climbing elevation. The range of rides being offered will include 2B, 2C, 3B and 4B.  Those participants who want to get the most out of this bike tour should be prepared to ride 40 to 50 miles with 2,500 to 3,500 feet of climbing each day.  We will also be offering a “remote start” feature on two days where we will transport you and your bike to a different location to begin the day’s ride.  There will be no sag support, except for emergencies, and cyclists are expected to complete the ride that they choose each day.  We will provide maps, cue sheets and GPS downloads for each route.  Participants are encouraged to bring GPS units and know how to use them before arrival.  There are no required ride days, and you’re welcome to take any day as a rest day.

LODGING
Our 11 day tour will be split between three overnight locations:  Your first overnight will be for one night in Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, known for its art and architecture.  (Many of the 2016 participants added additional nights at this location prior to the start of our tour and you might want to do the same.)  On our second day, we will board a chartered bus for the village of Serinya.  Here our “home base” is Mas Pelegri, which is a beautiful old stone mansion that has been fully restored into a sports hotel, all the while still keeping the ambience of old Catalonia.  Mas Pelegri is situated in a picturesque setting out in the country, away from busy streets and noise, and serves as the perfect starting location for most of our cycling days.  The bedrooms are generous by European standards, each with a private bathroom.  Our group dinners at Mas Pelegri will be created from locally sourced ingredients designed specifically for cyclists.  On site there is a 25m swimming pool, Jacuzzi, exercise room, gathering room, media room, laundry room, and outdoor terraces and patios.  WiFi is freely available.  Massages and physiotherapy treatments may be available at an extra cost.  Our third, and final location will be for two nights in the town of Girona.  Here you can explore this walled medieval city with enchanting narrow streets and towering cathedrals.

WEATHER
During the time period of this tour, the average high temperature is 75, and the average low is 50.  Rain is infrequent, with only an average of 6 rain days in a month.

LOGISTICS
Participants should plan to fly into the Barcelona International El Prat airport (BCN).  Our tour will start in the late afternoon of September 30, 2018 at our hotel in Barcelona.  (Details on transportation options from the airport to the hotel, as well as extending your pre-tour stay in Barcelona will be available about 9 months prior to our tour.)  The tour will conclude on October 10, 2018 with an early morning departure from Girona where we will board a chartered bus which will take us directly to terminal one of the Barcelona International El Prat airport (BCN).

High quality bike rentals will be available directly from Girona Cycling and be availalbe at our hotel in Serinya for the first day of cycling.  The bikes are carbon fiber frames with compact crank sets and Ultegra components.  The Ride Leader will send additional information to those participants who are interested in renting bikes.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
There are a lot of “extras” included in this tour!  For the estimated cost of $2,400, you’ll get 10 nights lodging (double occupancy), breakfast each morning, happy hour drinks and snacks most afternoons, 7 group dinners, transportation to nearby towns for 2 special dinners, transportation to 2 remote bike starts, luggage transfer on hotel change days, and transportation both ways from and to Barcelona.  Of course maps, cue sheets and GPS files are also included for each cycling day, but participants will need to print their own copies before arrival. 

SINGLES AND SOLOS
We welcome single participants, whether you share a room with another single or you choose to pay a solo supplement.  If you wish to share a room with another single, it’s preferable that you try to find your own roommate, and then notify the Ride Leader of your intended roommate.  If you do not have a roommate in mind, the Ride Leader will assist you by providing names of other singles looking for roommates.  If you sign up for this tour and pay the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be given until January 1, 2017 to find a roommate.  If you are unable to find a roommate, you will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the $100 BAC fee and processing fee) or pay the $1,200 single supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, you may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  Single supplement payments will need to be made directly to the Ride Leader.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The $100 BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense reports are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond promptly to requests for information from the Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description.  You will then be contacted by the Ride Leader.  After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($100) and tour deposit of $1,000 by credit card through the BAC site.  As soon as your payments have been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  Final payment of $1,400 will be due on April 1, 2018.  (Note:  Depending on currency exchange rates there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.)  BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.  Wait listing is encouraged.